Do You Need a Passport to Go to Canada?

In response to the passage of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHITI) passed by the government of the United States of America in 2004, as of June 1, 2009, all travelers entering Canada, whether by land, air, or sea, need a passport to enter Canada. On paper, American citizens do not need a passport to enter Canada, but the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires everyone entering the United States of America to possess a passport. As a result, Canadian officials have begun to require a passport for Canada entry from American citizens so that they are not prevented from returning home.

However, children under the age of fifteen do not need a passport for Canada if they are entering the country at land or sea entry points. American and Canadian children between the ages of sixteen and eighteen crossing the border with school, cultural, athletic, or religious groups and under adult supervision will be allowed to cross the border even if they only have proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. These restrictions are relaxed in order to alleviate the potential stain placed on residents of communities near the international border.

The need of a passport for Canada is a sign o the increased importance that controlling travel across the border has been given in recent years in the effort to improve American and Canadian security.

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